Enclosure



'tion to provide an enclosure,

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE ENCLOSURE Raymond E. Utter, Cincinnati, Ohio Application June 25, 1938, Serial No. 215,767 l 3 claims. L(C1. 22o-3s) This invention relates to enclosures, more particularly to enclosures for electrical equipment suitable for use in protecting electrical distribution systems, in which a removable cover is supplied to make the electrical equipment available for manipulation or adjustment.

In the past, enclosures have been provided with hinges of single types adapted to makev covers readily removable to manipulate electrical equipment positioned on the inside of the enclosures. With enclosures of this type much annoyance has been occasioned and often actual injury suffered -by an operator who had opened the cover without making secure provision for preventing the cover from closing while he was making changes to the electrical equipment. The cover not being securely held open was frequently closed accidentally by an uncontrolled agency such as wind etc. and would give the operators hands or iingers a violent blow which often caused injury. The present invention contemplates the provision of an enclosure with a hinged cover which may be readily opened and which is provided with a novel mechanism for securely holding the cover in open positionY which will obviate the difficulties pointed out above.

This invention further contemplates the provision of an enclosure which is weather-proof to protect the electrical apparatus mountedl within the enclosure.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invenparticularly for electrical apparatus, in which the cover is adapted to be securely held in open position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hinge cooperating with securing means for the removable cover of an enclosure which is adapted to hold the cover securely in place in both open and closed positions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hinge for the cover of an enclosure which cooperates with the structural elementsA of the enclosure to provide a Weather-proof joint between the cover and the enclosure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hinge for the coverof an enclosure which `is fabricated from stamped sheet metal parts and rivets in which the sheet metal parts are formed with only simple right-angle bands.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements `of the structure, to various details of construction, to combinations those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being hadv to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts inl the ,several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure to which the inventionvhas been applied.

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the same enclosure.v fw v Figure 3 is an exploded View showing the details of the hinge construction.

` Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the cover in closed position.

Figure 5 is an tion, showing the cover in partly open position.

Figure 6 is an elevational View showing a relation of the moving parts.

Figure '7 is an elevational view showing a relation of the parts when the cover is in open position.

Referring to the drawing, particularly to Figure l, a structure is disclosed to which the invention has been applied in which aI box-like construction or enclosure IB is provided which has a cooperating detachable cover IIv preferably hinged tothe enclosure I adjacent its upper end. Conduits I2 are provided toenter the enclosure and lead electrical conductors I3 which cooperate with extraneous electrical circuits to control apparatus I2 such as fuses, switches etc., particularly such apparatus which requires the freev use of both hands of an operator to manipulate them. The apparatus I2 may be supported in the enclosure I0 in the well known manner and may be provided with a flashing plate I3 which is held in position by means of screws I4. Inv order to manipulate the electrical apparatus I2, it is necessary to have the cover in open position substantially as shown in Figure 1.

To hold the cover I-I of the enclosure I0 in -open position, which may be a substantially horizontal position, a novel hinged construction has been provided which acts between the enclosure and the cover preferably adjacent the upper end of the enclosure; this also allows the cover II to be in substantial vertical position when closed.

:of parts and to economies of manufacture, Will 'be apparent to 55 verably fabricated with The box-like construction or enclosure Ill is prefthree sides and a bottom in the well known manner. The upper end is preferably left open and provided with al closure plate Illa whose edges are provided with pairs of parallel depending flanges I5 and I6 which enclose the open end of the box-like structure I0. The front and back flanges I5 are preferably tted snugly to the sides of the enclosure I0 Aand are elevational view, partly in secrelatively shorter than flanges I6, while the side flanges I6 extend a short distance beyond the sides so as to provide a space Il (Figure 2) into which is fitted a spacer I 8 whose thickness is substantially the same as that of the sheet metal from which the cover I I is fabricated. The plate Illa is preferably welded in position through the agency of the flanges at the sides and bottom of the enclosure I0, the spacer I8 being held in position in a similar manner.

A pair of aligning apertures 2B and 2I is provided in the ange I 6 and the side Ib (Figure 3) on each side of the enclosure, through which a rivet 22 is adapted to extend, being peened over at its inner end as shown in Figure 1. The cover II is provided with side ilanges IIa and II`b which are each provided at their upper ends with a slot I I c, the flanges I Ia and Il b being adapted to t in the spaces Il formed by th-e spacer I8 between the depending ange I6 and the side Illbl on each side of the enclosure. Adjacent the aligning apertures 2li and 2I on each side of the enclosure, the slots IIc, formed in the side lianges of the cover II, are adapted to cooperate with the rivets 22 to form the hinged construction which allows angular rotation of the cover I'II about the rivet 22, and also allows limited lateral movement of the cover II as defined by the movement of the rivets 22 along the slots I Ic, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

On each side of the enclosure adjacentA the aperture 2I in the side member Ib, the metal plate forming the side member is provided with an oblique cut 23 to prevent interference with the cover II as it rotates about the rivets 22. The oblique cuts 23 lead the cover upon `its rotation directly into slots 24 formed in the side members I b. The slots 24 are located, having reference to the aperture 2|, so that when the cover I I cooperates with the slots yas substantially shown in part in Figure 7, the cover will be substantially in a horizontal position as generally shown in Figure 1. The slots 24 are comparatively narrow, although slightly larger than the thickness of the sheet material from which the cover II is fabricated. This tolerance allows rotation to a limited extent on the part of the cover around the rivet 22. The sides I0b are cut .away about the slots suiciently to prevent interference with the cover as it swings about the rivets 22.

Referring to Figure 2, the lower end of the cover II is 4provided with a. ange I'Id which is provided with a slot 25 through which extends, when the cover` II is in closed position, an outwardly extending tongue 25, preferably welded to the side of the enclosure IG. The tongue 2B is provided with a spring catch projection 2.1 which cooperates with the sides of the slot 25 to hold the cover firmly in position when closed. The tongue 26 is adapted to be released fromthe slot by being pressed outwardly, so that the pro,- jection 21 is freed.

The operation ofthe hinged construction is shown in the series of Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 which show the different positions of the parts of the .hinged construction while it is being operated. Referring to Figure 4, the cover. is shown in closed position which, for convenience of de..- scription, will be designated the initiating Point- When rthe cover is in this position, its lower end with the iiange Ild, is in cooperative relation with. the side of the extends through slot 25. The latching projecb-ox, so that the tongue 2liv ,parts of the tion 21 will thereby have an opportunity to engage the side of the slot to hold the cover in closed position. This is also clearly shown in Figure 2. Adjacent the upper end of the enclosure, the depending llange I5 is in close engagement with the upper end of the cover Il, while the slots IIc, formed in the anges Ila and IIb, cooperate at their lower ends with the rivets 22. When the parts of the enclosure are in this relative position,y a weather-proof envelope for electrical apparatus is formed, particularly when the enclosure is mounted in the position shown in Figure l, in which the hinged construction is located adjacent the upper end. The depending flanges I 5 and I6 form a weatherproof cap for the enclosure and cover.

In order to open the enclosure and to place the cover substantially to the position shown in Figure 1, the tongue 21 is pushed downwardly (Figure 1) so as to release the catch projection 21 from cooperation with the side of the slot 25. This allows the cover II to be rotated outwardly so as to free the tongue 26 from its engagement with slot 25. The cover II then may move downwardly on the rivets 22 which advance relatively along the slots IIC as shown in Figure 5, so that the cover II extends a slight distance .beyond the bottom of the enclosure. At this time, the rivets 22 may be substantially in the upper portion of the slots IIc. The cover is then rotated by moving it upwardly as indicated in Figure 6 where the rivets 22 are still relatively adjacent the upper portion of the slots I I c. The upper end of the cover must clear the cut-away portions of the sides lb of the enclosure as shown.

The movement of the cover II is continued upwardly until it is in substantial alignment with the axis of the slots 24 formed in the sides I0b of the enclosure, at which time the cover is pushed inwardly, to force the upper end of the cover into the slots 24 as substantially shown in Figure 7. When the relative position of the hinged construction indicated in Figure 7 is obtained, the cover will be substantially in the position shown in Figure 1. The cover is now in substantially a horizontal position to allow free access to the interior of the enclosure without danger of accidental closure. The cover in this position will be acted upon by gravity tending to rotate it about the rivet 22. The upper end of the cover I I' engages the upper side of the slot 24 which prevents this rotation of the cover and, sufficient friction being present between the parts, the cover may not be displaced from its horizontal or open position without pulling it outwardly from the enclosure to free the engaged end from the slot.

The cover is closed by reversing the procedure until the position shown substantially in Figure 4 is again obtained. The tongue 26 may be provided with an aperture 26a adapted to position sealing devices of many well known types, which may prevent unauthorized opening of the enclosure.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of the present invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to those skilled n the art, but that the invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways withoutideparting from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed:

1. In a device of the class described, a box-like construction having two open sides; a permanently attached cover for one open side; a detachable cover for the other open side; the rst cover having depending anges cooperating with the side of the box-like construction and the other cover, being spaced from the sides to form spaces; flanges on the detachable cover adapted to cooperate with the spaces; slots in'the flanges of the detachable cover; aligning apertures in the flanges of the rst cover and the side members of the box-like construction; rivets cooperating with the aligning apertures and the slots to form a hinge for the detachable cover; slot means in the sides of the box-like construction adjacent the hinge to cooperate with a part of the detachable cover when the cover is moved along the slots in its flanges to form a securing means for the detachable cover when in open position; and catch means acting between the detachable cover and the box-like construction to hold the detachable cover in closed position.

2. In a sheet metal enclosure, a box construction having two open sides, a vertical cover member for one open side of the box construction, flanges on the cover member adapted to overlie the sides of the box construction when the cover member is in closed position, elongated slot means in the flanges adjacent the upper end of the cover member, means cooperating with the box construction andthe slot to form a pivot for the cover member to allow the cover member to swing thereabout and to allow lateral movement of the cover member inwardly of the lbox construction, slot means in a relatively xed'portion adjacent the pivot means cooperating with the cover member at the terminus of its inward lateralmovement to hold the cover member in open position at a predetermined angular relation with the box construction, a horizontal fixed cover member to close the second open side of the box construction, depending anges on the fixed cover member adapted to overlie the flanges on the vertical cover member and to form a narrow passageway therefor with the sides of the box construction, and a frontal depending flange on the xed cover member to cooperate with the vertical cover member when it is in closed position.

3. In a sheet metal enclosure of the class described, a box construction having two open sides, a movable cover member for one open side of the box construction having flanges adapted to overlie the sides of the box construction when the cover member is in closed position, elongated slot means in the flanges adjacent one end of the movable cover member, a fixed cover member for the second open side of the box construction having a frontal depending flange to cooperate with the movable cover member when the movable cover member is in closed position, depending flanges on the xed cover member adapted to overlie the flanges on the movable cover member and to form a narrow passageway with the sides f of the box construction, pivot means xed in the passageways to cooperate with the elongated slots in the flanges of the movable cover member to form a pivot for the movable cover member to allow the movable cover member to swing from open to closed position and to allow relative lateral movement of the movable cover member in an inwardly direction with respect to the box construction, and catch means including a slot means in the box construction to cooperate with the movable cover member adjacent the pivot means adapted by the lateral movement of the movable cover member to engage a portion of the movable cover member to hold the movable cover member in a predetermined angular relation for the open position with reference to the box construction.

RAYMOND E. U'I'IER. 

